Thanks for donating after the Strahm fire

Posted: Sunday, May 16, 2010

The family of Mary Lou Strahm, of Pelican, would like to thank everyone who contributed donations following the fire in February this year. The fire happened during a blizzard in the middle of the night and destroyed every single thing the family owned.

Wilbur and Mary Lou escaped with just the clothes on their backs. Their oldest son, Rick Strahm, lived in an upstairs apartment in the building. He was away at the time of the fire. All of his belongings were lost in the fire also.

The family would like to thank the Red Cross for their generous and immediate donation of money. The Salvation Army sent clothing, as did the Love In the Name of Christ (INC). Many friends and neighbors from Juneau and the surrounding communities made donations through the KeyBank account number. Seaplanes of Alaska forgave the freight on donations of food and supplies being sent over to the Strahm family. Tom Andrews, of Pelican, provided emergency housing. The residents of Pelican shared what little they had to provide the family with a home-cooked dinner. This was done on a rotation basis.

Pelican does not have a store with available food staples or fresh meat and produce. All food supplies are flown in at great expense or are brought over by the LeConte once a month. The townspeople were there for the Strahm family.

Many people who were not known to the Strahm family opened their hearts and their check books to help out in this heartbreaking and desperate time of need. The Strahms, Wilbur, Mary Lou and Rick, are eternally grateful for your goodness and generosity.

The family plans to rebuild in Pelican, the small fishing village where they raised their sons and worked for almost 40 years.